Decorative article



NOV. 2, 1937. L M, CASEY 2,097,513

DECORATIVE ART ICLE Filed Deo. 3l, 1936 INVENTOR. l

by [Il:

ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov- 2, 1937 UNITED srrlss DECORATIVE ARTICLE irene M. Casey,Oakland, Calif. Application December 31, 1936, serial Ne. 118,599

7 Claims.

The invention relates to articles used for ornamental and decorativepurposes.

An object of the invention is to provide an article of the characterdescribed which may be constructed of a plurality of sheets of materialand wherein advantage is taken of the qualities rof certain materialsand forms and wherein the sheets are assembled in a manner producing amost pleasing, attractive and decorative article.

Another object of the invention is to provide an article of thecharacter described which may be assembled in various forms andadaptations including tree shaped constructio-ns, wreaths, Windowtrimming streamers Vand the like.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some ofwhich, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the followingdescription of the preferred form of the invention which is illustratedin the drawing accompanying and forming part of the specification. It isto be understood, however, that Variations in the showing made by thesaid drawing and description may be adopted within the scope of theinvention as set forth in the claims.

Referring to said drawing:

Figure l is a side elevation of a decorative article constructed inaccordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of a part of the assembled article shown inFigure 1. f

Figure 3 is a plan View of a sheet or blank of material used in thepresent article. Y

Figure 4 is a side elevation showing the folded form of the sheetillustrated in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary side elevation of a portion of the basesupport of the article.

The decorative article of the present invention comprises an elongatedstem-like central support 6 about which are mounted a plurality offolded sheets 'l and which are of a material and are so folded andsecured to the member l as to produce an attractive, decorative display.The sheets themselves are preferably rectangular and preferablysubstantially square and each is folded by gathering a central portion 8of the sheet so as to draw the corners and peripheral portions of thesheet towards each other. In accordance with the present invention, theportion 8 is so gathered and the remaining portions so folded that theouter peripheral portions 9 will be smoothly rolled in substantiallyuncreased form and with the corners il, l2, I3 and i4 of the sheetspaced transversely from one another. The sheets are mounted to themember 'l by twisting theV gathered portion 8 to form a substantially iflat tab and the latter is bent at substantially corners of the sheetspreferably staggered relative i to one another so as to produce arelatively solid mass of folded' sheets. As will be understood, byreason of the substantially complete' absence of any tight creases inthe sheets adjacent their outer periphery, andon the contrary theprovision of open rolled portions on these sheets, therassem- I blagetakes` on, even though constructed of relatively flexible paper or thelike, a considerably increased strength and resiliency in mass form,whereby not onlyis the appearance of the assembly substantially solid,but. the assembly, is in fact quite rugged and sturdy.

As one of the important features of the invention, the sheets are formedof a material which has sufficient toughness and plasticity as to enablea gathering of the center portion of the sheet l and folding of thesheet as aforesaid, and a twisting of the gathered center portionwithout tearing the sheet or throwing the` outer peripheral portions ofthe sheet into sharply formed creases. Also in order that the' foldedsheets will have a Y certain sturdiness in assemblage, the materialshould have moderate resiliency. In addition, from an ornamental displaystandpoint, it is desirable that the sheets be at least partiallytransparent or translucent and have good light ree'cting surface so asto Vproduce an attractive sheen andbrilliance at the exposedsurfaces. Ihave found that the most suitable material for forming the sheets is acellulose base, fiberless sheet of the class of materials including suchtrade products as"cellophane and celluloidand the like. However, certaintypes of brous papers-may be used particularly Where the paper istreated'with wax or oil preparations so as to increase its toughness andplasticity. Y

As will be clear, the member 6 may be of sub-r stantially any length orconfiguration desired in i Y produce a decorative tree such as aChristmas tree or the like, and the member 6 is in the form of arelatively thin stem which is mounted to a base support i6 and held inupright position thereby. To produce the desired tree shape the sheetsare graduated in size so as to produce a variation in transverseextension from the member 6 along the length thereof and the sheetsarranged With a progression in size from the upper end Il' of the member6 to the base support I6. Preferably the folded portions 8 of thevarious sheets are bound to the member 6 by a continuous length ofadhesive tape I8 or the like which encompasses the portions 8 of thesheets and is Wound in spiral manner starting With the smaller sheets atthe upper end H and extending spirally down the length of the member 6to embrace the folded portions 8 of the successively added sheets.Surrounding the member 1 adjacent the bottom thereof and supported onthe base l5 is a vertically extending collar or tube I9 which is splitat its upper end to define a plurality of radially and upwardlyextending arms ZI which serve to engage and support the under side ofthe lowermost roW of sheets on the member 6. The member I9 may be formedof card-board or other suitable material and, as Will be understood, thebending of the arms 2| from the member provides for a firm resilientsupport for the bottom row of sheets which in turn support the sheetssuper-imposed thereabove.

If desired certain Christmas tree ornaments 22, such as metallic ballsor the like may be added to the tree by supporting the base securingportion 23 of the balls from the center member 6 or securing suchportions as here shown directly to the sheets themselves. The balls arepreferably inserted between the sheetsso that While clearly visible,they Will not protrude from the tree but Will be compactly andattractively contained Within the confines of the tree.

I claim:

1. A decorative article of the character described comprising, anelongated center support, and a plurality of sheets of material eachfolded by gathering the sheet at substantially the center portionthereof With the outer portions of the sheet folded in rolledsubstantially uncreased form and secured at said gathered portions tosaid member in circumferentially spaced relation around said member andin substantially abutting relation along the length of said member,

2. A decorative article of the character described comprising, anelongated center-support, and a plurality of substantially square sheetsof material each folded by gathering the sheets at substantially thecenter portion thereof with the outer portions of the sheet disposed incurved substantially uncreased form and with the corners of the sheetspaced transversely from each other, said sheets being secured at saidgathered portions to said member in circumferentially spaced relationaround said member and arranged in substantially abutting rows along thelength of said member.

3. A decorative article of the character described comprising, anelongated center support, and a plurality of sheets of a tough,yieldable, transparent, cellulose base berless material each folded bygathering the sheet at substantially the center portion thereof With theouter portion of the sheet folded in rolled substantially uncreasedform, said sheets being secured at the gathered portions thereof to saidmember in circumferentially spaced relation around said member and insubstantially abutting relation along the length of said member.

4. A decorative tree shaped article comprising, a base support, anupright member ysecured thereto and supported thereby, and a pluralityof sheets of various sizes and each folded by gathering the sheet atsubstantially the center portion thereof and secured at the gatheredportions of the sheets to said member in circumferentially spacedrelation around said member and graduated in size along the length ofsaid member With the sheets progressing in size in the direction of saidbase support.

5. A decorative tree shaped article comprise ing, a base support, anupright member secured thereto, and a plurality of spaced substantiallysquare sheets of various sizes and each folded by gathering the sheet atsubstantially the center portion thereof with the outer portions of thesheet disposed in rolled substantially uncreased form and with thecorners of the sheet spaced from each other, said sheets being securedat said gathered portions to said member in circumferentially spacedrelation around said member and in substantially abutting relationlengthwise of said membenvsaid sheets being graduated in size along thelength of said member with the sheets progressing in size in thedirection of said base support.

6. A decorative tree shaped article comprising, a base support, anupright member secured thereto, a plurality of substantially squaresheets of various sizes and each folded by gathering the sheet atsubstantially the center portion thereof with the outer portions of thesheet disposed in rolled substantially uncreased form and with thecorners of the sheet spaced from each other, said gathered centerportions being bent at substantially right angles to the remainder ofthe folded sheet portion and mounted in substantially parallel relationagainst said member with said folded sheets disposed incircumferentially spaced relation around said member and insubstantially abutting relation longitudinally of said member, and meanswound as a continuous spiral length around said sheet portions and saidmember to secure said sheets to said member.

'7. A decorative tree shaped article comprising, a base support, anupright member secured thereto and supported thereby, a plurality ofsheets of various sizes and each folded by gathering the sheet atsubstantially the center portion thereof and secured at the gatheredportions of the sheets to said member in circumferentially spacedrelation around said member and graduated in size along the length ofsaid member with the sheets progressing in size in the direction of saidbase support, and means mounted on said base support and having aplurality of portions radially extending from said member an-d engagingunder and supporting certain of the bottom sheets of the article.

IRENE M. CASEY.

